Lord & Taylor on the hunt for a new leader

Liz Rodbell, president of Lord & Taylor, which is owned by Hudson’s Bay Company, and of the industry’s most admired executives, is leaving the company at the end of April. A search is underway for her successor.

Rodbell joined Lord & Taylor in 1985, as a dress buyer. She went on to hold positions of increasing responsibility.

From 2014 to June 2017, Rodbell served as president of both Lord & Taylor and Hudson’s Bay, after serving as executive VP and chief merchant of both businesses.

Last June, as part of a HBC management organization, she lost her title at Hudson’s Bay and shifted her focus to just running Lord & Taylor.

“Liz is a strong leader at HBC who has made a mark on Hudson’s Bay over the last five years,” Jerry Storch, the then CEO of HBC, said in a statement at the time. “Liz’s vision for the future of retail has helped steer the business, and she truly understands our customer. With more than 30 years at Lord & Taylor, Liz is uniquely positioned to continue to lead the banner through its evolution and drive its digital strategy.”

Rodbell is credited with helping to grow Lord & Taylor’s e-commerce business, transforming the store into an multi-channel experience, and updating its image.